IMS/Dry Needling is a treatment technique that uses a solid filament needle to penetrate the skin in order to reach a myofascial trigger point within a muscle.
Trigger points are taut bands within a muscle that may cause local and referred pain as well as limit movement.
While using the same needles, IMS is not acupuncture. IMS uses anatomical landmarks of the body to locate and treat trigger points to relieve pain and improve overall function; whereas traditional acupuncture targets specific points on the body that exist along meridians.
Like acupuncture, there are contraindications to IMS therapy. Specifically, if you are pregnant, or have a pacemaker, or an active infection, you are not a suitable candidate for IMS therapy. At Collingwood Physiotherapy, our physiotherapists have received extensive training in the appropriate use of sterile, single use dry needles. Your therapist will ask questions about your health history and perform a detailed assessment to determine if your treatment area is suitable for IMS therapy.
During the session, the therapist will clean the skin with Stanhexidine. When the needle is inserted into the taut muscle or trigger point, you may experience a feeling of heaviness, achiness or a cramping sensation of that muscle. Your therapist may then decide to leave the needles in place for a period of time or remove then immediately.
While using the same needles, dry needling/IMS IS NOT acupuncture. Dry Needling/IMS utilizes the anatomical landmarks of the body to locate and treat trigger points relieving a person’s pain and improve overall function where as tradition all a acupuncture utilizes specific points on the body that exist along meridians.
At Collingwood Physiotherapy, our physiotherapists have received extensive training for the appropriate technique of using sterile, single use dry needles. Your physiotherapist will be taking some history and performing an assessment to determine if your treatment area is suitable for IMS treatment.
It is important to let your therapist know if you are pregnant or trying to conceive, if you’re on any prescription medications, or if you are immunocompromised, as you may not be suitable for this form of treatment.
During the session, the therapist will clean the skin with Stanhexidine. When the needle is inserted into the taut muscle or trigger point, you may experience a feeling of heaviness, achiness or a cramping sensation of that muscle. The therapist may then decide to leave the needles in place for a period of time or remove then immediately.
Situated on Kingsway and Tyne street, our clinic is in a bustling area surrounded by shops and cafes. You’ll find plenty of places to grab a bite or run errands before or after your appointment.
© 2025 Collingwood Physio // Analog + Digital
